Delbert Orr Africa, a member of the radical Philadelphia group MOVE, was reportedly released from a Pennsylvania prison Saturday, 42 years after he and eight other members were convicted of third-degree murder in a shootout that resulted in the death of a city police officer.
Pam Africa is the head of International Concerned Friends and Family of Mumia Abu-Jamal, the Philadelphia-based organization at the center of the international movement seeking Abu-Jamal's release. At the time, Africa still used her birth name, Jeanette Knighton.
In Monday's verdict, Ramona Africa, 40 -- the only adult to survive the fire -- was awarded $500,000 for pain and suffering and injuries. Relatives of the group's founder John Africa and his nephew Frank James Africa, who died in the incident, were awarded a total of $1 million.
"25 Years Ago: Philadelphia Police Bombs MOVE Headquarters Killing 11, Destroying 65 Homes" – video report by Democracy Now! "1985 MOVE Bombing at 30: "Barbaric" 1985 Philadelphia Police Attack Killed 11 & Burned a Neighborhood".
Before long, shooting began. In response to gunfire from inside the house, more than 500 police officers discharged over 10,000 rounds of ammunition in 90 minutes. The house was hit with high-pressure firehoses and tear gas, but MOVE did not surrender.
In one to two sentences, explain who you think bombed Bill's house, and why? Answer: I believe that Bill bombed his own house because he is scared of getting caught. He most likely bombed his house with all of his belongings so that he could not be traced.
The June 21 fire at the Philadelphia Energy Solutions refining complex was likely caused by a faulty pipe, a preliminary report from the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board has found. The fire, which raged for more than 24 hours, released 5,239 pounds of deadly chemicals into the air.
It was just around Mother's Day in 1985 when the Philadelphia city government stuffed explosives into a satchel, flew a helicopter over a home on Osage Avenue in West Philadelphia, and dropped the bomb on top of it. A massive fire blazed — and officials let it. Eleven people were killed, among them five children.
MOVE, founded by John Africa, was originally called the Christian Movement for Life. As John Africa himself had done, his devotees also changed their surnames to Africa to show reverence to it, which they regarded as their mother continent.
Bernard "Barney" Samuel (March 9, 1880 – January 12, 1954) was a Republican politician who served as the 115th Mayor of Philadelphia from 1941 to 1952. He is to date the last Republican elected mayor of Philadelphia.
